Can Roger Federer do the incredible at the Australian Open 2013? – Tennis Special
Former world number one, Roger Federer must schedule things that will help him sustain similar energy levels throughout the next season.
He has to cut short the tours and to make sure that he has enough stamina to survive successfully over the course of a year. However, the choice of not playing in a warm-up before the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, the Australian Open, is asking
for a bit too much from the 17-time Grand Slam Champion.
The Swiss Maestro has opted to skip all the events that help the body to get in shape for the hectic season to begin; especially for one of the four Major events of the year. However, the 31-year-old Federer has not signed up for any of the tournament before
the Australian Open which is a major surprise to all his fans.
It is not an unprecedented event in the latest era because most of the players contest in the Wimbledon Championships without any practice event. However, it happens at such time of the year when the body of the player is already match fit and half of the
season has passed that allows the muscles to loosen up. Therefore, the need of the practice tournament isn’t there but Australian Open comes after a season break of almost three months and definitely requires a warm-up session.
The second ranked Federer has taken a major risk by not opting to play in any of the season-opening events. However, the Swiss Maestro has enough experience under his belt that he can make bold decisions and access the situation to perfection. On the one
hand, the extra rest for the seven-time Wimbledon Champion can help him save energy but on the other hand, it can be hazardous to get straight into the rigorous game style of five-set matches in the Australian Open.
Last time Federer clinched the Australian Open trophy in 2007. At that time, he contested in the warm-up tournament at Kooyong that allowed him to settle few nerves and adjust to the atmosphere. In 2005, Marat Safin lost all three matches at the Hyundai
Hopman Cup at Perth because he had a fight in the night club and contested with a bruised eye.
However, the Russian stepped up the gear in the Australian Open and clinched the title. Former world number one, Andre Agassi, clinched the Wimbledon title in 1992 without any warm-up tournament at the grass court but he didn’t take risk before stepping
in the Rod Laver Arena in 2000, 2001 and 2003; took part in Kooyong and clasped three Australian Open titles in four years.
Last time anyone didn’t take part in the warm-up event and clinched the Australian Open title was also Andre Agassi who did that in 1995. However, this is a more competitive era and without playing a practice event can be a humongous risk for anyone; doesn’t
matter even if he is Federer.
Although it is highly unlikely, let’s see if the Swiss Maestro can record an historic win at the Rod Laver Arena in 2013.
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